Leaving behind the Marina and
hotel zone of Old Puerto Vallarta, we sail
into Bahia de Banderas. Costa Sur (the
Southern Coast) stretches out before the eyes of the
traveler, Puerto Vallarta’s adventurous horizon,
where the sea melts into the Sierra Madre Occidental
mountain range to create stunningly beautiful spaces
that inspire exploration and wonder.
In this environment, offers for
adventure are many and varied: from horseback riding or
all-terrain vehicles, to turtle camps and zip-lines, as
well as cultural tours and scuba-diving.
Puerto Vallarta’s Botanical
Garden is an ideal trip for nature lovers. Visitors can
admire over three thousand species of autochthonous
Mexican flora: palm trees, orchids, agaves, cactus,
roses, ferns, flesh-eating plants…if you’re traveling
with family, then the turtle and crocodile camp is a
highly recommended experience because, in addition to
exploring Bahia de Banderas’ mangrove swamps; it
also allows us to share the moving experience of
observing while the turtles lay their eggs and set their
hatchlings free in the sea.
Puerto Vallarta is located very
close to quaint, picturesque towns like Mascota y
Talpa and Pueblo Magico, which can
be reached by an exhilarating ride on horseback or by
all-terrain vehicle. San Sebastian del Oeste,
a small town nestled in the summit of the Sierra
Madre, preserves the charm of colonial Mexico
and offers the most beautiful views– both of the
mountains as well as of the lovely bay in Jalisco.
Close to these towns or to some of
the beaches in Costa Sur, you can go hiking or
horseback riding to observe the region’s flora and
fauna. Adventurous visitors will be glad to know that in
Costa Sur you can go climbing or practice rappel
descents, as well as go rafting down nearby rivers.
Snorkeling and scuba diving are the
star activities of Puerto Vallarta due to the
variety of its beaches and underwater nooks, rich in
fauna. The gentle waves of Mismaloya, Yelapa
and Majahuitas allow you to practice snorkeling
or kayaking along with family. Los Arcos National
Marine Park and Las Islas offer various
diving experiences–some specifically for
experts–although there are also courses available for
obtaining certification levels awarded by the
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).
Another of the most popular
activities in Puerto Vallarta is
humpbacked whale-watching during the winter. These
enormous and playful mammals descend from the cold
northern waters to give birth to their calves. Moreover,
you can watch the dolphins leaping on Bahia de
Banderas’ horizon practically year-round. Speaking
of dolphins, Puerto Vallarta also has
aquariums where the visitor can swim and play with these
marvelous creatures.
From Puerto Vallarta’s
Marina, you can also take tours or excursions by
yacht to different beaches with different activities:
spa, snorkeling, fishing, luxury tours and romantic
dining. If the traveler is seeking a cultural
experience, our recommendation is a flight to San
Andrés Coamihata, a small Huichol
town where a visitor can have a peek into this
disconcerting culture that hangs on resolutely to
conserve its identity and displays it with an art that’s
full of color and magic.
There are also airplane
trips available to Guadalajara, the state of
Jalisco’s capital, a magnificent city for admiring
colonial as well as contemporary architecture, going
shopping, visiting museums, listening to the traditional
mariachi and tasting the traditional
tequila.
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Adventure & Biodiversity Puerto
Vallarta
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Recommendations for your outings in
Puerto Vallarta: Make sure you know
everything that is included in the tour
that you’re going to purchase
beforehand. *Check out several options
on the internet before you make your
decision. *On adventure tours; ask about
restrictions as well as the required
minimum age.
For any
outing by yacht or other vessel:
Always take your bathing suit, sunblock
and suntan lotion, as well as a towel,
hat and money to buy handicrafts or
souvenirs. *All passengers boarding at
the Puerto Vallarta Marina must pay a
$15 MXN (pesos) tax. *On snorkeling or
kayaking tours; a deposit is sometimes
required for the use of the equipment,
which is refunded upon finishing the
activity.
For any
trip through the Sierra Madre mountain
range: Always take your bathing suit
and a towel, a sweater or light jacket,
insect repellent, comfortable closed
shoes and money for purchasing
handicrafts or souvenirs.
If you
scuba dive: Remember not to go scuba
diving if you are boarding an aircraft
within 24hrs.
Shopping
suggestions: We recommend that you
shop in galleries that hire Huichol
artisans
*When
purchasing
tequila;
make sure that the label states 100%
agave.
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